This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided last year. Included are the details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies. It is important that customers be aware of the efforts that are continually being made to improve their water systems. To learn more, please attend any of the regularly scheduled meetings. For more information please contact Bob Spellberg, District Manager at 775-265-2048.

We add disinfectant to protect you against microbial contaminants. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires states to develop a Source Water Assessment (SWA) for each public water supply that treats and distributes raw source water in order to identify potential contamination sources. The state has completed an assessment of our source water. For results of the source water assessment, please contact us.

Message from EPA
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) included rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water before we treat it include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.Pesticides and herbicides may come from a variety of sources such as storm water run-off, agriculture, and residential users.Radioactive contaminants, can be naturally occurring or the result of mining activityOrganic contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, may also come from gas stations, urban storm water run-off, and septic systems.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulation which limits the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. We treat our water according to EPA’s regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Our water system tested a minimum of 10 samples per month in accordance with the Total Coliform Rule for microbiological contaminants. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presences in water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio.

Water Quality Data
The tables following below list all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2016 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1- December 31, 2016. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The bottom line is that the water that is provided to you is safe.

Terms & Abbreviations

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to human health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology.Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.Treatment Technique (TT): a treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.Non-Detects (ND): laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.Parts per Million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l)Parts per Billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/l)Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.Millirems per Year (mrem/yr): measure of radiation absorbed by the body.Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

While your water meets the EPA's standard for Lead, ifpresent at elevated levels this contaminant can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Your Water System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Violations
During the 2016 calendar year, GARDNERVILLE RANCHOS GID is required to include an explanation of the violation(s) in the table below and the steps taken to resolve the violation(s) with this report.

Type

Category

Analyte

Compliance Period

MONITORING, ROUTINE MAJOR

Failure to Monitor
(Disputed)

CD SOCS REGULATED PHASE 2 & 5

1/1/2014 - 12/31/2016

Health Information About the Above Violation(s)
The District purportedly failed to monitor for Synthetic Organic Compounds in the second half of 2016. We are making you aware of this disputed issue through our Consumer Confidence Report. We will return to compliance by sampling as set forth by NDEP this year at which time the purported violation will go away. As this was a failure to monitor violation, and not an exceedance, no known health effects are believed to have resulted from the missed sample.